Chrysanthemum plant

ABSTRACT

1. A new and distinct cultivar of chrysanthemum plant known by the cultivar name Pinktive and particularly characterized as to uniqueness by the combined characteristics of decorative inflorescence type and semi-incurve inflorescence form; purple inflorescence color with uniform color oxidation; diameter across face of inflorescence up to 4 inches at maturity; uniform 9 week flowering response to photoperiodic short-day control; tall plant height; semi-spreading branching pattern, and dark green foliage with deeply lobed shape and coarsely serrated margin.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name Pinktive (No. 66145B05).

Pinktive is a spontaneous sport of Distinctive (No. 66145005, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,333). Pinktive was discovered and selected by Edmund R. Niklas in 1973 as one plant within a flowering block of Distinctive in a controlled environment in Clackamas, Ore.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Pinktive was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in August, 1973, in a controlled environment, in Barberton, Ohio by a technician working under formulations established and supervised by William E. Duffett and Jack M. Meek. Horticultural examination of selected units initiated July 25, 1974 has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for Pinktive are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

Pinktive has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day-length. The following observations, measurements, and comparisons describe plants grown in Barberton, Ohio under greenhouse environmental conditions which approximate those generally used in commercial practice, as described in Chart A which appears at the end of this specification. A light intensity chart of general use is shown in ASHAE Trans., Vol. 64, page 64, and reference is made thereto.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of Pinktive which in combination distinguish this chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Decorative inflorescence type.

2. Semi-incurve inflorescence form.

3. Purple inflorescence color with uniform color oxidation.

4. Diameter across face of inflorescence up to 4 inches at maturity.

5. Uniform 9 week flowering response to photoperiodic short-day control.

6. Tall plant height (requiring 1-2 long day weeks prior to short days and 1-2 applications of 2500 ppm B9-SP to attain a flowered plant height from 14 to 18 inches).

7. Semi-spreading branching pattern.

8. Dark green foliage with deeply lobed shape and coarsely serrated margin.

The accompanying photographic drawings show typical inflorescence and foliage characteristics of Pinktive. It is noted that difficulty was encountered in obtaining photographs accurately representing the true inflorescence color of Pinktive. The color readings in the following description are, however, correct. Sheet 1 depicts the distinguishing feature of purple inflorescence color of Pinktive, which appears on the left, in comparision to the lavender pink inflorescence color of the parental cultivar Distinctive, which appears on the right. Sheet 2 is a black and white photograph showing three views of the inflorescence of Pinktive. Sheet 3 is a black and white photograph showing the foliage of Pinktive at three stages of growth.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventors, the most similar existing cultivar in comparison to Pinktive is the parental cultivar, Distinctive. Reference is made to attached Chart B which compares certain characteristics of Distinctive and Pinktive. It will be noted that Pinktive has different inflorescence color and different inflorescence form than the parental cultivar. The diameter across face of inflorescence, plant height, branching pattern, flowering response period, and inflorescence type of Pinktive are similar to those of Distinctive.

In the following description, color references are made to The Munsell Limit Color Cascade, 1972 edition. The color values were determined between 1:30 and 2:00 P.M. on February 10, 1976 under 150 foot-candle light intensity at Barberton, Ohio.

Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., cv Pinktive.

INFLORESCENCE

Capitulum:

Form.--Semi-incurved.

Type.--Decorative.

Permanence.--14-18 days.

Diameter across.--3.0 to 4.0 inches.

Corolla of ray florets:

Texture (adaxial).--Glabrous.

Persistence.--Resists shatter.

Color (abaxial).--46-6 to 44-5.

Color (adaxial).--46-3 to 44-3.

Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Present disc florets only; scant pollen.

Gynoecium.--Present both ray and disc florets.

PLANT

General appearance: Semi-spreading; tall height.

Duration and texture: Perennial; herbaceous.

Foliage:

Color (abaxial).--Approximately 21-13 to 21-15 overlaid with grey.

Color (adaxial).--Approximately 21-13 overlaid with grey.

Shape.--Spatulate; deeply lobed.

Texture.--Glabrous.

Venation.--Prominent.

Margin.--Coarsely serrated.

    __________________________________________________________________________     CHART A                                                                        AVERAGE GREENHOUSE CHRYSANTHEMUM ENVIRONMENTS                                  USED FOR BARBERTON, OHIO                                                       TEMPERATURES USED                                                                        Bright                                                                              Cloudy                                                                              LIGHTING                                                                               BLACK CLOTH                                                                             SUPP                                      SEASON                                                                               Night                                                                              Day  Day  USED    USED     CO.sub.2                                  __________________________________________________________________________           65° F                                                                       65° F                                                                        60° F                                                                        2 to 4 weeks                                                                           To Sept. 15                                                                             From                                      FALL  to  to   to   at 3 Hours Per                                                                         on - 5:30 PM                                                                            Oct. 15                                                       Night                                                            56° F                                                                       80° F                                                                        75° F                                                                        of 7-10 f.c.                                                                           Off - 7:30 AM                                                                           300 ppm                                         58° F                                                                       65° F                                                                        60° F                                                                        2 to 5 weeks                                               WINTER                                                                               to  to   to   at 5 hours Per                                                                         NONE     300 ppm                                                       Night                                                            62° F                                                                       70° F                                                                        65° F                                                                        of 7-10 f.c.                                                     58° F                                                                       65° F                                                                        60° F                                                                        2 to 4 weeks                                                                           From Mar. 15                                                                            To                                        SPRING                                                                               to  to   to   at 5 Hours Per                                                                         on - 5:30 PM                                                                            Apr. 15                                                       Night                                                            65° F                                                                       80° F                                                                        75°  F                                                                       of 7-10 f.c.                                                                           Off - 7:30 AM                                                                           300 ppm                                         62° F                                                                       70° F                                                                        65° F                                                                        1 to 2 weeks                                               SUMMER                                                                               to  to   to   at 3 Hours Per                                                                         on - 6:00 PM                                                                            NONE                                                          Night                                                            68° F                                                                       90° F                                                                        75° F                                                                        of 7-10 f.c.                                                                           Off - 8:00 AM                                      __________________________________________________________________________

    __________________________________________________________________________     CHART B                                                                        COMPARISON OF PINKTIVE AND DISTINCTIVE                                                           DIAMETER ACROSS           FLOWERING                                                                              INFLORESCENCE                     INFLORESCENCE                                                                             FACE OF     PLANT BRANCHING                                                                              RESPONSE                                                                               FORM AND                   CULTIVAR                                                                              COLOR      INFLORESCENCE                                                                              HEIGHT                                                                               PATTERN PERIOD  TYPE                       __________________________________________________________________________     Pinktive                                                                              Purple     3.0 to 4.0  Tall  Semi-   9 week  Semi-incurved                                inches            spreading       decorative                 Distinctive                                                                           Lavender   3.0 to 4.0  Tall  Semi-   9 week  Flat                              pink       inches            spreading       semi-cactus                                                                    decorative                 __________________________________________________________________________      COMPARISONS MADE OF PLANTS GROWN IN A GREENHOUSE IN BARBERTON, OHIO UNDER      ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS AS DESCRIBED IN CHART A                          

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of chrysanthemum plant known by the cultivar name Pinktive and particularly characterized as to uniqueness by the combined characteristics of decorative inflorescence type and semi-incurve inflorescence form; purple inflorescence color with uniform color oxidation; diameter across face of inflorescence up to 4 inches at maturity; uniform 9 week flowering response to photoperiodic short-day control; tall plant height; semi-spreading branching pattern, and dark green foliage with deeply lobed shape and coarsely serrated margin. 